Steering and transmission mechanism for traction-vehicles.



A. I. COLWELLN A, T. KENNEYU STEERING AND TRANSMISSION MECHANISM FOR TRACTION VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NINE 24,1915- I.,1?0,877.- Wanted Feb 8, I916.

S M 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WW? JAM I SI WIIIIIIIII FI- IJCCOLW-ELL I 1 3%? v v I A. J. COLWELL & A. TL-KENN EY STEERING AND TRANSMISSjON MECHANISM FOR TRACTION VEHICLES.

' APPL HSAIION FLFED JUNE 24, 1915.-

Wu Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 9

ammo 0 3 regulating the amount of power transmitted ,to these wheels to thus regulate to some ex- 2 0 all whom it may concern AnvAH I. coLwELn Ann ALBERT 'r. Kearney, or NORFOLK, NEBRASKA.

STEERING AND TRANSMISSION MECHANISM FOR 'I.]Et.A.C'lION-VEI-IIGLIEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Application filed June 24, 1915. Serial No. 36,111.

Be it known that we, ALVAII J. COLWELL and ALBERT T. KENNEY, citizens of the United. States, residing ,at Norfolk, in the county of Madison and State of Nebraska,

' haveinvented certain new and useful Improveincnts in Steering and Transmission Mechanism for, Traction-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates'to power transmis- S1011 and steerlng mechanism for power propolled vehicles, and particularly to a power transmission and steering mechanism peculiarly adapted fortractors, trucks, and like vehicles.

The general object of this invention is 1 the provision of a very simple, direct acting,

and positively operating mechanism, whereby a tractor or other power propelled vehicle may be steered by the traction wheels thereof without the use of any other steering wheels or steering gear.

l application of power to the other traction wheel, and whereby to obtain independent control of the traction wheels to thus conv Qnect or disconnect them from the power or drive them either in one direction or the other.

A further .object is to provlde means whereby the traction wheels of a power propelled vehicle-may be rotated both in the same direction to carry the machine foreitherone of the 'wheelsmay. be disconnected 4 y from the driving power and the other driven either forward or backward to thus cause the machine to be turned sharply in one direction or the other without the necessity fward, both in the same direction to carry the machine backward, either of the wheels in d rections reverse to the other, or whereby of operating any other steering gear or other steering wheel. 1

' I Alfurther object'in this connection is to provide for? applying power gradually to either or both of the traction wheels and for tent the speed of the traction wheels relative to the speed of the power shaft.

A further objeetin this connection is to 'wheels of the tractor may be driven at full speed, or at a less ipeed than full speed, and

the other traction whee] may be driven at a less speed than the first-named traction wheel to thereby provide for turning the tractor upon a relatively long radius, and still another object isto provide means for permitting slippage between the driving shaft and the driven shafts connected to the traction wheels to thereby provide for a differential action between the wheels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for'controlling the direction of rotation .of the traction wheels and including steering levers movable both in one direction to drive the machine forward and both in one direction to drive the machine rearward. I

Other objects has-to do with improvements in the details of construction of mechanisms of this character whereby wear may be taken up and whereby the transmission may be firmly supported as will be hereafter particularly pointed out.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a .top plan view of the combined steering and power transmission mechanism, the frame of the vehicle being partly shown; Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view of the driven shafts, one of the driving cones and the supporting frame; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the driving shafts and its bearing; Fig. t is a side elevation of a portion of the frame of the machine, showing the means for connecting one of the traction wheels to its corresponding driven shaft; Fig. 5 is a like view to Fig. 4' but showing the means for connecting the other traction wheel to its driven shaft; Fig. 6 is asection on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing the position of the driving and driven friction wheels when the tractor is moving forward; Fig. 8 is a like view to Fig. 7 but showing the position of the parts when the tractor is moving backward; Fig. 9 is a like view to Figs. 7 and 8 but showing the pos1- 10 is a like view to Fig. 9 but showing the position of the friction wheels when the tractor is being turned and for end.

Referring to these drawings, 2 designates generally the frame ofa tractor which suports upon it an approximately rectangular bearings is a power shaft 6 are eccentrically bored each for transmission supporting frame 3, this frame 3 having integral lateral extensions 4. Supported upon the front and rear bars of the frame 3, or in any other suitable manner, are bearings 5 whose. detail construction will be later described, and supported in these adapted to be driven by'any suitable power, such as an internal combustion engine. Keyed or otherwise mounted upon the driving shaft 6 for rotation therewith are posed friction wheels 7 and 8. These friction wheels are preferably made of tarred fiber or like material and have the form of truncated cones, the smaller ends of the cones facing toward each other.

Mounted in bearings 9 upon the side bars ofthe frame 3 and upon the extensions 4: of this frame 3 are the sleeves or boxes 10. These are cylindrical and rotate in cylindrical journals formed in the bearings 9 and the passage of a traction wheel shaft 11. Each wheel shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 1, carries upon its inner end the bevel-faced friction wheels 12 and 13 which are adapted to coact with and have frictional engagement with the friction cones 7 and 8. The space between the faces of the driving cones 7 and 8 isreatcr than the diameter of either of the beveled friction wheels 12 or 13 so that when these beveled friction wheels 12 and 13 are placed in the middle position. midway beween the, cones 7 and 8, there will be no frictional engagement between the cones and the wheels." When, however, a box'or sleeve 10 is rotated in one of the shaft 11 relative to the eccentric box or sleeve ll cause the shaft to be moved forward or backward, depending upon the direction of rotation of the sleeve or box,

and thus the active face of the corresponding friction disk or wheel 12 or 13 will be carried into frictional engagement with one or the other of the friction cones 7 or 8. For the purpose of adjustably rotating the sleeves 10' independently of each other, I mount upon each sleeve the radially projec'ting arm 14. As illustrated, each arm is clamped in place upon a radially projecting lug formed upon a clamping ring 14 which is clamped upon or box 10.

Each friction wheel 12 or 13 is keyed or.

otherwise mounted upon the corresponding shaft 11, but has longitudinal movement relative to the shaft and is heldto its work by means of a thrust bearing comprising the antifriction members 15 and adjustable collars or nuts 16. The anti-friction balls 15 form thrust bearings while the adjustable collars being mounted upon the sleeves or eccentric boxes 10, permit the sleeves t be shifted longitudinally of the bearings to thus cause the sleeves-to press with greater contact between the oppositely .dis-' direction, the eccentricity the corresponding sleeve or less force upon the friction balls and thus adjust the friction'wheels with. relation to the friction cones. Thefriction cones 7 and 8 are also keyed upon the shaft 6 and the thrust of these cones is supported by ball bearings 17 hearing against thrust collars 18, these collars being adjustable so as to take up wear, increase or decrease frictional the transmission wheels, and increase or decrease the space between the friction collars 7 and 8.

While we do not wish to be limited to any particular manner of gearing the traction wheels 19 to the shafts 11, wehave illustrated one shaft 11 as provided. with a pinion 20 meshing directly with a'toothed gear wheel 21 whose shaft carries a pinion 22 in turn meshing with an internal gear. wheel 23 mounted upon the traction wheel. The other shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel 20 operatively engaged by means of asprocket chain with a sprocket wheel 21 which in turn carries the gear wheel 22 meshing with a gear 23. By this construction we rovide that a movement in one direction of bth of the levers 14 will cause the machine to move forward, while a movement in'the other direction of both controlling levers will cause the machine to move rearward. Thus noconfusion can exist with regard to the movement of these levers and the steering is rendered natural.

While we might use the arms or levers 14 as the sole means for shifting the sleeves 10, we preferably, however, connect the arms 14 to controlling levers supported in any suitable mar-nor, as upon the middle beams of the frame 2, these controlling levers 24 being connected by means of links or connecting rods 25 to the levers or arms 14. By this means the steering of the machine is accomplished from the rear end thereof upon which the driver is supported in any suitable manner. Preferably the rear end of the machine is supported by means of a supporting wheel 26 suitably mounted upon' the frame of the tractor, said wheel acting as a trailer, if desired.

The operation of the transmission mecha-v nism above described will be evident to those skilled in the art. When it is desired to drive the machineforward, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the friction wheels -12 and 13 are both shifted by a proper operation of the corresponding levers 24 so as to carry both friction wheels into contact with the driving cone 8. Both of the traction wheels now be rotated in the same direction and at a corresponding speed by reason of the fact that one traction wheel is connected to its driven shaft lay-means of a sprocket chain and sprocket wheels,'as in Fig. 5, while the other traction wheel is connected to its shaft through the gears 20 and 21 thus causing this traction v. heel to rotate in a reverse d1- 24 which are pivotally will corresponding shaft 11.

shifted into engagement with the cone l rection to the direction of rotation of the If it is desired to reverse the movement of the tractorso that it will move baclnvard instead of forward, the friction wheels 1). and 13 are both shifted into engagemen with the cone 7 ,'as shown in Fig. 8.

If it bedesired that the machine shall turn shar ly or quickly to the left, then, as

illustrate in Fig. 9, the friction wheel 13 is while the friction wheel 12 is shifted out of engagement with either of the cones 7 and 8 and Into a neutral position. Under these circumstances the traction wheel connected to the beveled gear 12 will. act as a upon which the machine will turn, an as a consequence the machine will turn sharply toward the right. Where it is desired that the machine shall make a relatively wide turn as for instance a turn toward the left,

,the friction wheel 13 is shifted into engagement with the cone 7 and the gear 12 is also shifted into engagement with the cone 7 but only lightly engaged therewith and with a much lighter pressure than the opposite friction wheel so that there will be slippage. Thus one shaft will be driven at a higher rate of speed than the other shaft and the machine will make a relatively wide turn, or a turn of great radius. If it be desired, as in Fig. 10, that, the machine shall. be turned end for end" without moving out of its tracks, then the friction wheel 12 is shifted into engagement with one of the cones while the friction wheel .13 is shifted into engagement with the other cone. Thus the shafts will be caused to rotate in oppo-, site directions and the traction wheels will rotate in opposite directions.

Of course what applies to the turning of the machine to the left will equally wellapply to the turning of the machine toward the right. It is also obviousthat the machine may be backed and steered in precisely the same manner as heretofore described for moving the machine forward and simulta neously steeringit, and in fine, that the machine is at all times entirely within the control of the operator for a steering movement. It will also be obvious that both of the friction wheels 12 and 13 may be shifted out of engagement with the cones 7 and 8 and thus the machine remain stationary though the,

engine is being operated. The. slippage which may be rovided for between either one of the friction wheels 12 and 13'and the fi'intion cones 7 and 8 permits a differential action of the traction wheels, that is, allows the two Wheels driven by one source .of

o'wer to revolve'at dill'ercnt speeds. Thus It has been found in experience with our tractor that in plowing the traction wheel on the unplowcd land will lead ahead of the traction wheel that runs in the furrow.

ivot

This is due to the soft ground in the furrow ofiering less resistance to the wheel. By running the friction wheel icoscr on the land side than on the furrow side we can. counterstrated J n 5 is that this form of transnnscon mechanismis very simple and permits of a relatively great range of movement of the shaft and the eccentric box without throwing the parts out of gear.

/Vhile friction wheels or gears have been shown andare much more effective in practice for the reason that' thereby a gradual application of power may be secured, and

also because it is possible to operate one shaft at a lower rate of speed than the othel' shaft 11, and further because the use of conical friction wheels permits wear to be taken up, yet this invention is not limited to the use of friction wheels as it obvious that bevel gear wheels may be employed in place of friction wheels. Neither this invention limited to the use of sleeves for the purpose of shifting the eccentric shafts 1.1 to carry the corresponding wheels. 12 and 13 into engagement with one or the other of the drivin cones, as ther means may be provided or shifting these shafts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

of the tractor. The construction gives con-.

trol of either driving wheel independent of the other and in a manner not obtainable otherwise except with relatively complicated mechanisms.

It will be obvious'that this invention may be applied to all forms of power trucks,

tractors, commercial cars, or to traction driven farm mmzhinery, and anywhere where it is necessary to apply power to either one of two driving wheels separately or both at the same time.

While under some circumstances the wheel 26 may be connected to means for positively turning it so as to hold the machine steady, yet when the machine is used as a tractor in'pulling wagons, rakes, harrows, etc, or driving on the road or through .fields, the steering is between the drivin wheel,

through the control of he t1 aeo' Under all circmnstsncc 26 is merely used as an ausiilii classes of work.

Having thus described the invention, what 's claimed is: i

1, In a motor vehicle, srring and power transmission mechanisnn including a power shaft, independently movable action Wheels; ashaft operati w" (ffi'liili'ii'lllii to traction heel, oppositely disposed driving Wheels mounted on the power sl it oppositely disposed driven wheels mono d one on each traction wheel shaft and p between said driving Wheels and for operatively engaging both 0 the driven wheels with either ol" toe driri g 2. In a, mot-or vehicle, steering a if power a power transmission mechanism, mclium ly rota-t shaft, traction wheels, iru'h uoent ble shafts to which the traction wheels are operatively connected oppositely disposed driving Wheels mounted on the pmvcr it, oppositely disposed (lllYti whee ed one on each traction wheel slia'it s ,u'l Wheels being mounted between the d Wheels, and means for operatively enp" one of the driven wheels with one o driving Wheels, and the other driven when With the other driving wheel.

3. In a motor vehicle i. transmission mechanism, in ch shaft, traction whorls ind able shafts to which the traction wh ,r operatively connect .xl onpo driving wheels mounted on the power shalt oppositely disposed driven wheels mounted one on each traction wheel shaft and located and means for operatively disconnecting citoer one oi the driven Wheels from both driving wheels, end connecting the other one i the driven wheels to either one of the driving 'sz'hecls.

4. In a motor vehicle stee in; 1 transmission mechanism, includir shaft, traction wheels, independently rot ble driven shafts. gear wheel connjition tween one of said sim'i'ts and one traction Wheel, sprocket wheel and chain con between the other dr i other traction wheel, oppo 1 driving wheels mounted on t sitely disposed drir on each traction vvh operatively engagi wheels with either or 1 nection ram-mission mechanisnn including a power independently rotatable driven shafts, 1 ion. wheels operatively connected to the "ective shafts, oppositely disposed drivreels mounted on the power shaft, 0p po tely disposed driven "wheels mounted one on traction wheel shaft hearings in which the traction wheel shafts are eccentrieall mount j and independent means for rotating said hearings in the same or opposite directions, as and for the purpose set for. i

ii. in a motor vehicle, a supporting frame, a power shalt mounted upon the frame and extending longitudinally thereof, oppositely dispi ed so driven shafts mounted upon the frame, traction. eels ogmrativcly engaged by said on oppositely '7 iosed conical friction driven whee mounted each upon one said driven she "Us and disposed between driving friction wheels, independent means for shifting each of the driven friction wheels and the inner end of the corre;v sixondin heft longitudiimlly parallel to the poo'ei ui'ft iron! a neutral position into ongagement with either one of the driving friction wheels said means comprising eccentrically bored elei ,cnts rotatably mounted upon the suppo ting frame, and means for ai ing said elements.

'2'. in. a mo or vehicle, a steering and power tronsmi 'on meclmnism including aprm'er shaft i-ction wheels. a shaft operatively connected to each traction wheel, op- 'iositely disposed driving WliQt' s mounted on the power shaft, oppositely disposed drii'en wlcls mounted one on each traction wheel and means for operatively engaging both or? the driven wheels with either of the driving wheels or one of the driven wheels to one oi? the driving wheels and the other 1 n wheel to the other driving wheel, or t sting one oi the driven wheels from "ing wheels and connecting either e driven wheels to either one of the v heels.

8. moon vehicle, a supporting frame,

er shaft mounted on the frame and X- long tudinally thereof, oppositely spaced conical driving friction I 12 short, laterally extending alining s mo antcd upon the frame, 0p

nsha't po itclj; c wheels moimter'l upon each of said driven soaft and 'sposed between the driving for independently wen friction wheels tion into engag one of the drivin trartion Wheels mounte pen and rotatal'ile with the posed conical friction driven upon the supporting frame, gear Wheels no m'ted upon the traction wheels, a pinion meshing with one of said gear Wheels, a gear 1 wheel mounted. upon the shaft of said pinion, a pinion carried upon a corresponding cliiven shaft and engaging the last named gear Wheel, a pinion engaging the gear wheel of the opposite traction wheel, a sprocket Wheel carried upon the shaft of said pinion; a sprocket'w'heel carried upon the shaft of said oer-responding driven shaft, and a sprocketchain oonnsfiking 'ssid sprocket A Wheels. n

In testimony wbersof we Inox'euntoafix our signatures in she presnncs of two wi%:- 15

W. R. McFAmNn. 

